Page 33 of Little Red Riding Hood
Astrid climbed to her feet. She’d dressed properly once they got back, and Red’s eye kept catching on her necklace—a cord withwhat looked like wolves’ teeth threaded through. Were they the teeth of her enemies? The woman’s presence was formidable even before the morbid accessory.
“You’ll need your energy for tomorrow,” Astrid told her son.
“But I’m not sorry for leaving!” Toby remained seated, folding his arms. “I need to help Wim!”
Red knelt beside Tobias, his heart twisting at the boy’s fierce declaration. The child’s devotion to Wim struck a chord inside Red, he couldn’t deny it.
“Listen.” Red took Tobias’s hand in his. So much smaller. Red already felt a kinship with this little wolf pup, even though they’d spent but a handful of hours together. “I promise I’ll help Wim in your place.”
Tobias’s eyes narrowed. “You swear?”
“Cross my heart.” Red traced an X over his chest, careful to keep his gaze fixed on the boy rather than risk meeting Wim’s eyes. His cheeks burned at making such a statement, but something in him couldn’t bear to let this child down.
“No, no.” Tobias shook his head. “You have to do a proper pack promise.” He stuck out his little finger. “Hook your finger with mine and repeat after me. By the moon’s silver light…”
“By the moon’s silver light…” Red echoed, linking their fingers.
“And the forest’s ancient might…”
“And the forest’s ancient might…”
“I swear to help Wim find his cure, or may wolves chase me day and night!”
Red’s lips twitched at the childish rhyme, but he repeated it solemnly.
Tobias beamed. “Now you have to howl.”
“I most certainly do not.”
“You do! It’s part of the promise!”
Red glanced at Astrid, who raised an eyebrow in confirmation. Swallowing his dignity, he tilted his head back and let out what he hoped was a passable howl.
Tobias dissolved into giggles. “That sounded like a dying cat!”
“Hey now!” Red ruffled the boy’s hair. “I’d like to see you do better.”
Tobias demonstrated with a surprisingly decent howl of his own, which Red refused to admit put his attempt to shame.
“And I’ll come and visit you at some point.” The bold words tumbled out before Red could stop them. But it was alright—this pup would forget all about Red in no time. “I’ll tell you all about the rumours of Hallin’s Plumed Menace.”
“The Plumed Menace?” Toby’s eyes were as wide as saucers. “The one who killed Hallin’s crown prince?”
Red winked. “He leaves a single feather atop his victims.”
“Alright, that’s enough. He already has nightmares without adding to his list of monsters, thank you, Red.”
Tobias rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath, but allowed his mother to guide him away to where she’d set up her bedroll.
Red eyed his own, just as a chilly gust of wind blew through the camp. It would be cold again tonight, but there wouldn’t be any chance of a repeat of last night’s sleeping arrangements, not after Astrid’s reaction this morning.
He said he couldn’t stand the sound of your teeth chattering, that was all!
Using both hands, Red rubbed at his face. These confusing thoughts were doing his head in. He climbed into his bedroll, pulling the fabric tightly around him, and shut his eyes. Tomorrow, he’d go back to calling Wim an insufferable mangy mutt. No more distractions.
A soft thump beside Red made him freeze. He cracked open one eye to see Wim spreading his bedroll mere inches from Red’s own.
“What do you think you’re doing?” Red propped himself up on his elbows.
